A pastry chef in Las Vegas made a giraffe statue entirely out of chocolate. Amaury Guichon of the Pastry Academy makes mouth-watering desserts for a living. He shared this video of his week-long process making this remarkable creation. It’s 8.3 feet tall and weighs 160 pounds. Formidable, but nothing compared to a full-size male giraffe, which can stand 18 feet tall and weight 4,200 pounds. When not made of chocolate, that is.
Though Guichon mentions he came up with some new techniques for this demanding build, those aren’t detailed in the video. He has to balance the body on a chain suspended from the ceiling before adding the legs. Guichon pours chocolate onto the counter to create sheets. Then he cuts out pieces in the shape of legs and adds those. The sheets are rolled up in order to piece together the neck.
The best part of the video, which we saw on Laughing Squid, is when the face is sculpted. So much detail goes into each part, with the eyes and ears giving this dessert undeniable personality. The end result is a confusing mix of looking both adorable and delicious.
The next step is for Guichon to airbrush the entire thing, we assume using paint also made of chocolate. Even before that happens, the giraffe has its trademark spots because of the various chocolates and techniques used. But once complete, it’s truly a masterpiece.
The academy’s website displays some really photogenic desserts. Including a cake version of Pixar’s Luxo Jr. lamp. And more from the animal kingdom, like a giant squid. You can also see Guichon on the Netflix reality competition School of Chocolate. Or sign up for his master class if you just can’t get enough!
Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.